Does your food smell funny?

Day 45 14JAN2010:
I’m writing today because I have not since the start of the New Year. It’s crazy how the rest of the world keeps moving on, struggling, flourishing, prospering and suffering while we sit here in a constant state of goundhogsdayemia. It really is the same thing every day. But today, yes today I heard news that next week I may be flying up to an area in Iraq called Kurdistan to treat some Soldiers, bring some medical supplies but really just to get the hell off FOB Warrior. When my Platoon SGT was telling me about the trip today I couldn’t help but smile. This is supposed to be a really safe part of Iraq that is really its own little country. They are pro-American and actually want to divorce themselves from Iraq. Its also supposed to be mountainous and maybe even green? Who knows but it will be different from here and I should be gone for a few days. This is good.
I’ve been noticing some trends that are amusing. One is how reactionary the Army is and how dramatic a response there is for every incident. Someone commits suicide. Bam! We have suicide prevention training EVERY week. You want people to start committing suicide? Here’s how you do it. You make them sit in a class on it every week. Or, someone says we need to continue with training while out here. Bam! We have training three times a week resulting in bored students and crappy classes. Another trend; the awesome displays of one-upmanship. This is an endemic in the male dominated Army culture. It’s bad in the states but you get all these boys out here living in close proximity and the stories start flying like trailer homes in a tornado (? I don’t know where that came from). The BS coming out their mouths is so absurd it funny and the best thing to do is egg it on so they just look more and more ridiculous. I have two favorites whom if I happen to be with them both at the same time ill just bring up a topic and slowly walk away while they puff their chests and begin berating each other with nonsense. It is a show to watch, torture to listen to, but always amusing.
Sewage. I smell it often and usually on my way to chow. The stench is everywhere. If the air is calm and a little humid…you’re basically bathing in it. I think I’ll start associating certain foods with the sweet odor of a port-a-john getting pumped. This could be bad because when I get home I don’t want to crave a chicken sandwich every time I walk into a public restroom. I may drive by a sewage plant and ask my co-riders if they are suddenly in the mood for seafood. Could happen, I’m just saying.
Maybe I’ll have something more insightful to write about after a little traveling. I sure hope so.